A pediatrician who will be missed

It was Tuesday, December 2, 1997. I left work early for a consultation appointment with a doctor from Derry Pediatrics. I was 38 weeks pregnant with my first child and after meeting with this doctor, would make my decision about which pediatric office I would choose for the medical care of my baby.

I had already visited Londonderry Pediatrics the week before and met with a doctor there. She was OK, but I left there not overly impressed with the office. This doctor certainly had impressive credentials, but there wasn't anything that convinced me I should join their practice and so I decided to check out the other local group of pediatricians in Derry.

When I was calling to make an appointment, there were four doctors within the practice and I knew none of them. Because I knew I was having a boy, I narrowed my choice down to the two male doctors and randomly chose one over the other, for no particular reason.

Dr. Tombari led me to his simple office from the large and unimpressive, outdated waiting room area where I had been waiting. He gave me a brief overview of the practice, standard immunizations, well-visits, etc. I liked him immediately. I even felt somewhat comforted by the fact that it wasn't a posh office with exaggerated decor that reflected the demeanor and personalities of the doctors. They were pediatricians, very down to earth, having practiced there for years, and their nurses were as old as they were, obviously comfortable and happy and knowledgeable in their careers.

Still, I'd consider the two facilities and make a decision. I had a couple of weeks anyway, so there was no need to rush.

Mild contractions woke me during the predawn hours of the next morning. My water had broken and ready or not, I was going to have my baby two weeks before his due date. After nearly 12 hours of labor, Tommy was delivered by cesarean section. At some point, I was asked who the pediatrician was and without hesitation, I said, "Derry Peds." It was a coincidence that Dr. Tombari was the one on call that day and who examined Tommy immediately after his birth. I silently thanked God that I had gotten our consultation visit in just in time to be able to make a confident decision.

Two days later, Dr. Tombari performed Tommy's circumcision and we went home. On Monday, I called the pediatrician because Tommy looked extremely jaundiced. We were instructed to go to the hospital's outpatient services to get a bilirubin test done. It was barely three hours later when the pediatrician's office called us, requesting that we bring him in immediately. His test came back very high (24, when a normal number is between 5 and 6). Dr. Tombari examined him and sent us back to the hospital, where Tommy was readmitted for two days for treatment. He was put under the lights Monday afternoon, overnight, and all day Tuesday. The doctor on call allowed him to room with me Tuesday night since his bilirubin number had gone down, and by the following morning, exactly one week since the day he was born, it was down enough that he could go back home. The test was repeated Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and Monday and at his two week check up, the exact day of my due date, Dr. Tombari told us he needed no more tests and was fine. He had grown a whole inch and weighed just one ounce more than his birth weight.

The births of Tommy's three brothers were planned cesareans, but it was one of the other doctors who was on hand for Christopher's birth. I can't remember who it was for Joey's, but know it was Dr. Tombari who was on hand for Jeffrey's birth, which occurred five days before the scheduled surgery.

Over the course of their early years, we had seen all of the doctors within the practice, but Dr. Tombari was the noted doctor, until I happened to get a sick visit with the only other male doctor within the practice. I decided I really liked him as well and started scheduling the boys' visits with him and that may be why I didn't notice Dr. Tombari's absence from the office. I would see him occasionally, and one of the boys had a visit with him within the last year, but I can't remember who or why.

Last year, I had Tommy's records transferred to the family practice doctor I see, not because I wasn't happy with Derry Pediatrics, but because he had issues that could be better addressed at this other facility and Tommy was getting older and would likely feel more comfortable at a family practice versus a pediatrician's practice.

We visited Derry Pediatrics just last week for a sick visit for Christopher. It had been eleven years since I first walked through the door to the office and when we walked in last week, I silently praised them for finally getting around to remodeling. The walls were bare; signs, posters, pictures all revealing naked walls that were about to get refaced. The office decor had been outdated a decade ago, so you can imagine by now, it was screaming for a facelift.

I hope a corner of the waiting room will be dedicated to Dr. Tombari's memory. He will be sorely missed.